Visor bracket



W.- C. LINCOLN Feb. 17, 1953 Y vIsoR BRACKET Filed .June 25.' 1947INE/ENTOR. miba-P C: .ZL/z600@ novel features f' producing Aan PatentedFeb. 17, 1953 arent ,carica Avison BRACKET Wilbur C.V Lincoln, Chicago,`Ill., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Dieteri'chProducts Corporation, Michigan City,lnd., a corporation of Illinois Applicatio. Lineas, 1947,` serialNogvssisov Thisinvention'trelates to anVr automobile visor andmorerspecifically to the bracket construction therefor which incorporatescertain new and economical "and practical arrangement; f f `v 'One ofthemain obiectionsin the 'past to Visors ofthis Vtype has 'beentheprocedure required to secureY them into position over the windshieldof an automobile. l Thefservices ofa trained mechanic are VLrequiredtospot and 'drill the neces` @claims (c1. fats-A2265y of the bracket tothe corner'post or 'forward panel sary'holesto' accommodate thefastening screws or bolts, orother 'special work was necessary toattach" adapters to receivethe brackets supportinglthe visor.. M

,jf One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide aAvisor havingbrackets that may be secured 4to an `automobile 4bodywithout the aidof a trained mechanic and without the use of specialtools-or drills.' The visor is made forxdirect and simple.attachmentto'the carfbody by `any `person through the use ofthe verysim-J plest of common tools. Further, no holes or other changes need bemade to receive the brackets to that subsequent removal ofthe visor forshort orlong intervals of time, or for any reason what soever, will notaffect'the` normal appearanceof the rfront orA corner posts of thebody'of-the car. Inftransferring ownership of a car, the visor maybe'readily changed to the new Vehicle without defacement ofthe vehiclefrom which thesame was removed. y f 1 @Another object ofthelinvention isto provide a bracket having a hinge structure arranged foranti-frictional adjustment to change the inclina`` tion'of the visor tosuit conditionsof use',the hinge' having the facility Vto retain suchvisor as adjustedr under all normal driving conditions.

" Allv other objects and vadvantanges relating` to the'V visor bracketsof thepresent invention shall hereinafter appearfin the followingdetailed de' scription' having reference to the accompanying drawingsforminga part of thisspecication'. "N VL`V`'In the drawings: n l Y fFig. lis a general perspective view of a conventional automobileillustrating the visor shade' attached by means of the brackets of thepresent invention; y 1 n j Figl 2"is another perspective view of thevisor shade bracket whichin this instance 'represents the left-handbracket of the Fig. l construction' and asl the same is seen from theinner face thereof;

Fig. :3'is a transverse cross sectional view onv anenlarged scalesubstantially as taken along the line 3i`3`in Fig'. 1 illustrating theattachment portion `of the automobile which flanks the windA shielolfofthe car;v l

Fig. 4 is another detail cross sectional view similar to Fig; 43 but"illustrating how' the's'ame attaching means of the bracket may bepositioned in other car constructions' wherein certain details oftherain gutter arrangement havebeen varied; Fig-5 is a fragmentary verticalcross sectional view of one of the-frictional hinge units substantially'as seen along the line5--5 inFig. 2; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are each fragmentaryviews-of the hingefportions ofthe tworelatively movable bracket arms and as the same would appearwithout thefrictionalfconnecting'means that are illustrated in' Fig. 5.` Thegeneral visor' construction comprises a' visor shade I having agenerally formedand arranged interior `framework forming a peripheralsupport 2 over whichv an envelope of Water-proof fabric 3; orother'su'itable covering which has been "properly treated or prepared,may be stretched and secured into' place to produce a single unitaryairfoil ofproper dimensions and design to fulfill the function ofshading the ocAv` cupants` of the car. V

4This visor l* is supported 'by means o f the brackets!! and 5 attachedat each sideof the car and itis preferable to provide a center bracket 6having a brace T connected with the visor shade Ijand havingasuitableclamp i3y of conventional biffurcatedA construction which may be lusedfor grasping the, opposite sides ofthe center bar 9 of the `windshieldI0. l Since each of thebracketsj and 5 are of like construction with theexception that the same-.are made left and right `mind-units to occupysimilar, and corresponding sides of anautomobilein supporting., the.Visori shade i, thebracket i illus.n trated in Fig. 2 willbe ldescribedin detail to present: the ,salient features of the invention inherentlycontained in the specific construction of bracket shown. z

Bracket 5 primarily y'includes two main` ele ments comprising the visorarm l l and the supportingl arm 'l2- whichare connected for relativemovement in a'novel `hinge arrangen'lentv which includes the frictionalsecuring means i3 andi I4 hereinafter to -be described `in detail. It

suiiicesy to sayfthat thegarms 'li and i2 are respect to the windshieldand forward portion of the car body.

The visor arm II is preferably made as an angular unit having a verticalleg I5 with leg I6 laterally disposed with respect thereto and havingsuitable openings I'I and I8 therein to permit screws, bolts, or otherfastening devices to be secured through such openings I'I and I8 forconnection with the visor frame 2 so that arm I I and the visor are inrigid and fixed union for bodily swinging about the general axis of thehinge of the entire visor bracket.

The supporting arm I2 is also provided with a vertical leg IS having alateral leg 2i]v to also present an angle construction which isinverted, however, with respect to the legs I5 and I6 of the visor armII. The visor supporting arm. I2 is provided with a depending bracket 2|which has its outer surface portion disposed generally` in theL sameplane as the vertical leg I9 of the supporting arm I2. This bracket 2Iis provided with'a lateral leg 22 for the purpose of securing suchbracket to the adjacent lateral leg 2D of the supporting bracket I2 inany suitable desirable fashion. In the present construction the leg22 isjoined to the leg 2E! through soldering orbrazing so that the bracket 2Ibecomes an integral portion of the supporting arm I2. The 4outer remoteend of the bracket 2I is shaped to prov-ide a hook channel 23 that ispreferably made to extend the length of the bracket 2i although it neednot be continuous.

The pair of lateral legs and 22.are suitably drilled and tapped toreceive screws 24 and 25,

and each of these screws is provided with lock nuts such as 28 and 2'Irespectively.

The vertical locations of the screws 24,v and 25 are such with respectto the position ofthe channel 23 as to provide a means for securing thevisor supporting arm I2 to the raingutter portion of a conventionalautomobile. As seen in Fig. l, the sides of the car are provided withrain gutters 28 and 29 which extend along each side ofthe car top andthen forwardly and downwardly along each of the corner posts 30 and 3Iof the car.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the bracket 5 is fragmentarily illustrated andIshown in clamped or attached relation with respect to the adjacentportion of the car. bracket 2| is positioned in a general vertical planewith the hook channel 23 engaging about the rounded portion of the raingutter 28 and with the screw 24 being disposed adjacent the open side ofthe rain gutter 28 and preferablyin contact with the edge thereof andabutting against a part of the corner post 30 substantially at a point32. It should also bevnoted that the screw 24, by being properly spacedwith respect to the wall of the bracket'ZI, is` adaptedfor hav'- ingVpartial engagement at 33 with the outer'open edge portion of the raingutter 28 to produce a stabilizing feature which normally contributes tohold the entire bracket in its xed and attached position after the samehas been applied and fastened to the automobile inthe manner. shown inFig. 3.

In some constructions therain. gutter may be wider and more open asshown at 34 in Fig. 4 and in such instances thescrew 24 may bepositioned to enter directly a part of or the entire gutter as the casemay be for securing the bracket 2l of the visor supporting arm I2 infixedrelationship with respect to the adjacent and adjoining portion ofthe corner post of an automobile.

Here it is seen that the As stated before, lateral stability is obtainedby the location of the screws 24 and 25 with respect to the open portionof the hook channel 23 so that the screws may engage or be situatedirnmediately adjacent the open edge portion of the rain gutter 28 or 34thereby counteracting any rotational movement of this unit with respectto and about the longitudinal axis of the rain gutter. Obviously, suchmovement is also prevented through the visor shade which spans the carfront from the bracket 4 to the bracket 5. Likewise, the use of twoscrews such as 24 and 25 further enhances the stability of the bracketalthough it is also contemplated using a single central screw or othersingle attaching means equivalent to said screw for the purpose ofattaching the bracket 2| of the visor supporting arm I2 to the raingutter or other equivalent portion of an automobile body.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, each of the arms I I and I2 are providedwith generally circular ears 35 and 3B which are enlargedfportions ofthe vertical legs I 5 and I9 of such arms. In addition, each of the ears35 and 33 are provided with elongated and concentrically arrangedopenings such as 3'I and 38 in ear 35, and 39 and 49 in ear 36. When thetwo arms II and I2 of the brackets are placed with ears 35 and 36 inadjacent contacting position, the openings 3'I-38-and 39e-40 will begenerally disposed in coincident relation when these brackets are joinedwith the legs I6 and 20 being in general parallel relationship. When sodisposed, each of the pairs of openings 31-39, and the correspondingpairs of openings 38-45 are adapted for receiving the frictio'nal hingeunits I3 and I4 which are identical and best illustrated by reference toFig. 5.

Each of the hinge units I3 and I4 comprises a frictional screwarrangement including a screw 4I having a nut 42 engaging a springwasher 43 which is normally urged against a washer 44 disposed adjacentthe leg I9 of the ear 36'ofthe supporting arm I2 and another washer 45is con ned between the head of the screw 4I and the adjacent surface ofthe verticalleg I5 of the arm II. By properly tensioning the nut 42 itis an easy factor to control the frictional resistance encountered atthe hinge fastening points and obviously the spring washer 43 will actto prevent the nut 42 from turning loose under most normal adjustedoperating conditions.

Obviously, both of the fastening units are concentrically located sothat each of the arms II and I 2Y are swingable and adjustably movablewith respect to each other about the virtual-axial center. points aand bindicated in Figs. -6 and '7. Thus, in attaching the visor I to theforward portion ofa car and above the windshield thereof, the bracketsY4 and 5 may be adjusted to the proper angular relationship by making theangular adjustment at the frictional hinge assemblies and by thensecuring the center bracket 6 in proper relationship with respect to thecenter bar 9 of the windshield IIJ. It should be understood that thebracket 5 may be optionally used depending upon conditions of operationandv other variable factors. However, withvthe suitable and large enoughfrictional units ofthe kind shown in Fig. 5 and with two or more of suchunits, it is possible to tighten the arms II and i2 into selectedpositions which will normally withstand any loosening of the visorduring the operation of the car. In this respect, it should also benoted that the screw 4I might be replaced vwith a wing nut for hand,Vmanipulation which is an obvious expedient and which may be desirableand more useful when the brackets such as i and 5 are being utilized tosolely support the visor from the lateral edges or corner posts of theautomobile body, and with the center or other brace such as 6 not in usewhich has normally only the function of adding stability to the forwardcentral portion of the visor to prevent uttering and other noisyconditions.

The frictional hinge units I3 and I4 are placed in oli-center relationwith respect to a virtual axis that intersects points a and b. Thisarrangement distributes the frictional forces at points away from thecenter of rotation of the bracket arms il and I2 causing betterfrictional contact between ears and 3B and at areas that are much moreeffective in resisting rotation or change of angularities between thearms.

Certain changes and modications in the exact construction of visorbracket disclosed and described are contemplated in the bracket of `thisinvention. Also, the substitution of equivalent elements and mechanismsare contemplated to promote the inherent features and to fulll thepurposes for which this bracket has been provided. All such changes andmodiiications as well as substitution of equivalent elements shall begoverned by the breadth and scope of the claims directed to thisinvention and appended hereto.

What I claim is:

i. In apparatus of the class described coinprising an automobilewindshield shade adapted to be positioned in shielding relationship tothe windshield of an automobile having gutters alongside the windshield,means for securing the shade to the gutters comprising a channel membersecured to opposite ends of the shade adjacent opposite gutters, eachchannel member having relatively parallel upper' and lower walls onopposite sides of the associated gutter, and a connecting perpendicularwall, the lower wall being' curved and adapted to hook under saidassociated gutter, the upper wall having screw means engaged therewithand passing through same downwardly and into the top of said associatedgutter, and clamping said channel member to said gutter.

2. Channel members as described in claim l in which the said channelmembers have means providing limited pivotal securement of the ends ofthe shade thereto.

3. Channel members as described in claim 1 in which the lower walls eachconsist of a continuous hook channel coextensive with the width of saidperpendicular wall adapted to engage beneath and around the outside ofsaid gutter.

4. In apparatus of the class described comprising an automobile visoradapted to be positioned in shading relationship to the windshield of anautomobile body, said body including gutters alongside the windshield,means for securing the visor to the gutters comprising a bracket securedto opposite ends of the visor adjacent opposite gutters, each brackethaving hook means to embrace beneath an outside portion of said gutter,and adjustable screw means connected with said bracket and having atleast one element adapted for movement toward and away from said hookmeans and adapted to engage a portion of said body to urge said gutterembracing means into tight engagement with the outside of the gutter,said element being offset from the bracket for side contact with thefree edge of the rain gutter to counteract rotative motion between thebracket and hook upon said gutter.

5. In apparatus of the class described comprising -an automobilewindshield shade adapted to be positioned in shielding relationship tothe windshield of an automobile having gutters alongside the windshield,means for securing the shade to the gutters comprising a channel membersecured to opposite ends of the shade adjacent opposite gutters, eachchannel member having relatively parallel upper and lower walls onopposite sides of the associated gutter, and a connecting perpendicularWall, the lower wall being curved and adapted to hook under saidassociated gutter, the upper wall having screw means engaged therewithand passing through same downwardly and into the top of said associatedgutter, and clamping said channel member to said gutter, said screwmeans having contact with the free edge of the gutter to counteractrotative motion between the bracket and the gutter.

6. In apparatus of the class described comprising an automobile visoradapted to be positioned in shading relationship to the windshield of anautomobile body, said body including gutters alongside the windshield,means for securing the visor to the gutters comprising a bracket securedto opposite ends of the visor adjacent opposite gutters, each brackethaving hook means to embrace beneath an outside portion of said gutter,and adjustable screw means connected with said bracket and having atleast one element adapted for movement tow-ard and away from said hookmeans and adapted to engage a portion of said body to urge said gutterembracing means into tight engagement with the outside of the gutter,said element being offset from the bracket for side contact with thefree edge of the rain gutter to counteract rotative motion betweenthebracket and hook upon said gutter, each bracket having relativelyparallel upper and lower walls on opposite sides of the associatedgutter, and a connecting perpendicular wall, said hook means beingformed by said lower wall andfrsaid upper wall having said screw meansengaged therewith and passing therethrough.

WILBUR C. LINCOLN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D.156,373 Ross Dec. 6, 19491,149,977 Gow Aug. 10, 1915 1,306,626 Redmond June 10, 1919 1,394,254Damon Oct. 18, 1921 1,445,918 Sterling Feb. 20, 1923 1,498,524 Gage June1'?, 1924 1,604,694 Hein Oct. 26, 1926 1,733,007 Dahl Oct. 22, 19291,860,073 Brewster May 24, 1932 1,864,943 Riddle June 28, 1932 2,253,353Sharp Aug. 19, 1941 2,342,625 Brooks Feb. 29, 1944 2,424,222 Brown et alJuly 22, 1947 2,447,246 Groboski Aug. 17, 1948

